Contact Information

The Office of the Ombudsman is open between 9.15 and 5.30 Monday to Thursday and 9.15 to 5.15 on Friday.

18 Lr. Leeson Street, Dublin 2.

Tel: +353-1-639 5600

Lo-call: 1890 223030

Fax: (01) 639 5674 Email: ombudsman@ombudsman.gov.ie

Annual Report of the Ombudsman 2007

Chapter 5 : Statistics - Part II

TABLE 10 (a) : Department of Social and Family Affairs
Breakdown by Main Categories of Complaint Received in 2007
Old Age & Retirement Pensions	127
Disability, Invalidity and Maternity Payments	56
Child Benefit	46
Widows and One Parent Family Payment	32
Carer's Allowance	25
PRSI	19
Fuel Allowance and Free Schemes	17
No Reply to Correspondence	14
Unemployment Payments	12
Family Income Supplement	11
Back to work / Education Allowance	9
Occupational Injury Benefit	5
Miscellaneous	97
Total	470

TABLE 10 (b) :

Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

Breakdown by Main Categories of Complaint Received in 2007

Single Farm Payment

32

REP Scheme

26

Farm Development Grants

10

No Reply to Correspondence

7

Area Aid

4

Early Retirement Scheme

3

Livestock Grants

3

Milk Quota

1

Area Based Allowance

1

Forest Premium Scheme

1

Miscellaneous

25

Total
113

TABLE 10 (c) : Department of Education and Science

Breakdown by Main Categories of Complaint Received in 2007

Higher Education Grants & Fees

28

Delay/Failure to Reply

15

Special Education

6

Recognition of Qualifications

5

NOVA

4

Examinations

3

School Transport

2

Incremental Credit

2

Miscellaneous

21

Total
86

TABLE 10 (d) : Office of the Revenue Commissioners

Breakdown by Main Categories of Complaint Received in 2007

Income Tax

37

VAT / Inheritance / CGT

14

No Reply to Correspondence

14

Stamp Duty

8

Customs and Excise

2

Miscellaneous

41

Total
116

TABLE 10 (e) : Department of Justice, Equality & Law Reform
Breakdown by Main Categories of Complaint Received in 2007
Administration of Visa or Asylum Applications	80
Delay	29
No reply to correspondence	21
Quality of Service	1
Miscellaneous	18
Total	149

TABLE 10 (f) : Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government

Breakdown by Main Categories of Complaint Received in 2007

No Reply to Correspondence

3

Motor Tax/Driving Licence/Driving Test

1

Miscellaneous

12

Total
16

TABLE 10 (g) : Department of

Communications, Energy & Natural Resources

Breakdown by Main Categories of Complaint Received in 2007

Sea Fishing & Aquaculture Licensing

4

No reply to correspondence

3

Miscellaneous

3

Total
10

TABLE 10 (h) : Department of Health and Children

Breakdown by Main Categories of Complaint Received in 2007

No Reply to Correspondence

3

General Registrar's Office

2

Miscellaneous

9

Total
13

TABLE 10 (i) : Department of Transport

Breakdown by Main Categories of Complaint Received in 2007

No Reply to Correspondence

6

Driving test

1

Miscellaneous

12

Total
19

TABLE 10 (j) : Department of Foreign Affairs

Breakdown by Main Categories of Complaint Received in 2007

Passport Application

6

No Reply to Correspondence

3

Miscellaneous

4

Total
13

TABLE 10 (k) : Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment

Breakdown by Main Categories of Complaint Received in 2007

No Reply to Correspondence

2

Miscellaneous

8

Total
10

TABLE 11 : Local Authorities
Breakdown by Main Categories of Complaint Received in 2007
Housing			282
	Allocations & Transfers	155
	Loans & Grants	28
	Repairs	45
	Sales	45
	Rents	9
Planning			198
	Enforcement	133
	Administration	65

Roads and Traffic			114
Delay/Failure to Reply			105
Waste Disposal			25
Service Charges			35
Water Supply			14
Sewerage and Drainage			11
Rates			8
Quality of Service			7
Parks/Open Space			7
Motor Tax & Drivers Licence			4
Acquisition of land/rights			4
Access to Information on the Environment			2
Miscellaneous			44
Total			860

TABLE 12 (a) : H.S.E - Non-Hospitals

Breakdown by Main Categories of Complaint Received in 2007

Supplementary Welfare Allowance

127

Exceptional Needs Payment

40

Rent and Mortgage Allowances

25

Back to School - Clothing/Footwear Allowance

24

Miscellaneous

38

Health Services (General)

42

Medical Card

41

Drugs, Medicines and Appliances

1

Hospital Services

71

Nursing Homes/Long Stay

50

Miscellaneous

21

Cash Payments (other than SWA)

49

Delay/Failure to Reply

31

Childcare/Social Work Services

28

Health Services

26

Services for the Elderly - Housing Aid

19

Hospital Charges

9

Dental Service

4

Hospital Services Psychiatric

3

Provision of Service

1

Miscellaneous

77

Total
487

TABLE 12 (b) : H.S.E. - Hospitals

Breakdown by Main Categories of Complaint Received in 2007

Hospital Services

66

Miscellaneous

66

Delay/Failure to Reply

5

Hospital Charges

7

Hospital Services Psychiatric

1

Miscellaneous

5

Total
84

TABLE 13 :

Valid Complaints Received by County in 2007

Carlow

25

Cavan

23

Clare

62

Cork

270

Donegal

69

Dublin

692

Galway

131

Kerry

117

Kildare

92

Kilkenny

43

Laois

63

Leitrim

22

Limerick

113

Longford

15

Louth

63

Mayo

88

Meath

82

Monaghan

20

Offaly

40

Roscommon

26

Sligo

34

Tipperary

142

Waterford

101

Westmeath

28

Wexford

50

Wicklow

65

Outside Republic

102

Total
2578

Chapter 5 - Part III

Back to contents

TABLE 10 (b) : Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
Breakdown by Main Categories of Complaint Received in 2007
Single Farm Payment	32
REP Scheme	26
Farm Development Grants	10
No Reply to Correspondence	7
Area Aid	4
Early Retirement Scheme	3
Livestock Grants	3
Milk Quota	1
Area Based Allowance	1
Forest Premium Scheme	1
Miscellaneous	25

Total	113

TABLE 10 (c) : Department of Education and Science
Breakdown by Main Categories of Complaint Received in 2007
Higher Education Grants & Fees	28
Delay/Failure to Reply	15
Special Education	6
Recognition of Qualifications	5
NOVA	4
Examinations	3
School Transport	2
Incremental Credit	2
Miscellaneous	21

Total	86

TABLE 10 (d) : Office of the Revenue Commissioners
Breakdown by Main Categories of Complaint Received in 2007
Income Tax	37
VAT / Inheritance / CGT	14
No Reply to Correspondence	14
Stamp Duty	8
Customs and Excise	2
Miscellaneous	41
Total	116

TABLE 10 (g) : Department of Communications, Energy & Natural Resources
Breakdown by Main Categories of Complaint Received in 2007
Sea Fishing & Aquaculture Licensing	4
No reply to correspondence	3
Miscellaneous	3
Total	10

TABLE 10 (h) : Department of Health and Children
Breakdown by Main Categories of Complaint Received in 2007

No Reply to Correspondence	3
General Registrar's Office	2
Miscellaneous	9
Total	13

TABLE 10 (i) : Department of Transport
Breakdown by Main Categories of Complaint Received in 2007
No Reply to Correspondence	6
Driving test	1
Miscellaneous	12
Total	19

TABLE 10 (j) : Department of Foreign Affairs
Breakdown by Main Categories of Complaint Received in 2007
Passport Application	6
No Reply to Correspondence	3
Miscellaneous	4
Total	13

TABLE 10 (k) : Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment
Breakdown by Main Categories of Complaint Received in 2007
No Reply to Correspondence	2
Miscellaneous	8
Total	10

TABLE 12 (a) : H.S.E - Non-Hospitals
Breakdown by Main Categories of Complaint Received in 2007
Supplementary Welfare Allowance			127
	Exceptional Needs Payment	40
	Rent and Mortgage Allowances	25
	Back to School - Clothing/Footwear Allowance	24
	Miscellaneous	38
Health Services (General)			42
	Medical Card	41
	Drugs, Medicines and Appliances	1
Hospital Services			71
	Nursing Homes/Long Stay	50
	Miscellaneous	21
Cash Payments (other than SWA)			49
Delay/Failure to Reply			31
Childcare/Social Work Services			28
Health Services			26
Services for the Elderly - Housing Aid			19
Hospital Charges			9
Dental Service			4
Hospital Services Psychiatric			3
Provision of Service			1
Miscellaneous			77
Total			487

TABLE 12 (b) : H.S.E. - Hospitals
Breakdown by Main Categories of Complaint Received in 2007
Hospital Services			66
	Miscellaneous	66
Delay/Failure to Reply			5
Hospital Charges			7
Hospital Services Psychiatric			1
Miscellaneous			5
Total			84

TABLE 13 : Valid Complaints Received by County in 2007
Carlow	25
Cavan	23
Clare	62
Cork	270
Donegal	69
Dublin	692
Galway	131
Kerry	117
Kildare	92
Kilkenny	43
Laois	63
Leitrim	22
Limerick	113
Longford	15
Louth	63
Mayo	88
Meath	82
Monaghan	20
Offaly	40
Roscommon	26
Sligo	34
Tipperary	142
Waterford	101
Westmeath	28
Wexford	50
Wicklow	65
Outside Republic	102
Total	2578